A Struggle for Votes of Armenians in Parliamentary Elections in Turkey

Recently, the People’s Democratic Party of Turkey has stated that in case of success in the upcoming June 7 parliamentary elections, it will seek an early normalization of relations with Armenia and Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, as well as the opening of borders. Yevgeny Satanovsky, a Russian orientalist and economist, president of the independent Scientific Center «Institute of the Middle East» in a conversation to the “RUSARMINFO” agency qualified this announcement as a pre-election step, outlining that there’s no political party in Turkey that could take such a step. «All Turkish elite and the left and right, Islamists, nationalists, the military are not willing to recall the past for what it is and recognize the country’s guilt. What to expect from the upcoming elections! if we talk about them in terms of the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, then there’s no expectation, «said Satanovskiy.

Speakingabout the establishment ofrelations between Armeniaand Turkey, the orientalist has expressed the viewthat there is nohope for theirserious improvement.

«The ruling party of Turkey andErdoganpersonally have demonstrated theirstance on this issueafterthe Russian presidenttook part in theevents dedicated tothe 100th anniversary ofthe Armenian Genocide.Turkey’s responsewas completelyinadequate, and the government response—prohibitivelyaggressive.And itis already showinghowserious attitude has the Turkish elite in regards to thememoryof the Armenian Genocide,» he explained.

Gevorg Petrosyan,aspecialist in Turkish studies and director of the «Euphrates» research centerthinks thatthePeople’s Democratic Party has thetaskto enter the parliament, overcoming the 10—percent threshold, and the mainconstituenciesof this political forceare national andreligious minorities—Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians.

Despite the official policy of Ankara, the Turkish parties’ election lists include Armenian candidates. The People’s Democratic Party of Turkey has suggested for the forthcoming parliamentary elections two Armenians candidates. The ruling Justice and Development Party and the Republican People’s Party also introduced by one Armenian candidate in the upcoming elections. It is possible that from the four nominated Armenian candidates two or three may enter the Parliament.

According to the turkologist, the most favored among the political forces is unquestionably the Justice and Development Party led by Erdogan, de facto and de jure — Davutoglu. For 13 years, this party has been the ruling political force in Turkey.

It’s important to note that twenty parties are taking part in the parliamentary elections in Turkey.

P.S.Despite the requeststo normalize relations withArmenia,Turkish PresidentRecepTayyip Erdogan ata meeting with votersin the town ofBingolin hisangryspeechequated Armenians to journalists andgay people and mentioned thatthey’re at thetop of the country’s enemieslist.In his statement, Turkish President made it clearthat, unlikeother political forces, the Justice and Development partywouldn’t softenthe tensionin the Armenian-Turkish relations.